The Perak Forestry Department has been directed to prepare report over illegal logging.

IPOH: The Perak Forestry Department has been directed to prepare an immediate report on the alleged illegal logging activities in the mountainous area close to the border between Perak and Pahang near Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he could not confirm the correctness of the allegation as reported by the media on Sunday until the report was released by the State Forestry Department.

“We don’t want to blame any party and will endeavour to seek the truth on what actually transpired,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting here on Wednesday.

He said that the state government would not compromise with or protect anyone found involved in illegal logging.

Dr Zambry also welcomed the move by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate several companies involved in logging activities in the area and obtaining statements from several Perak Forestry Department officers to assist in the investigation.

Meanwhile, he said the state government would equip the Perak Forestry Department with the latest equipment besides increasing its manpower to ensure that it could carry out continuous monitoring effectively on logging activities in Perak.

Media reports on March 7 stated that a team of MACC officers, together with personnel from the Perak Forestry department and Rela, had foiled an illegal logging operation near the Perak and Pahang border last Saturday.

A spokesman from the MACC was reported as saying that the illegal logging activities were carried out in a forest area measuring about 100ha.

-- Bernama